Gastritis
Do you have indigestion, stomach pain, and nausea? If yes, chances are you are experiencing gastritis symptoms. It is a condition caused when your stomach lining is damaged due to stomach juices. Learn about Gastritis in this article.
Visit Endoscopy Brownsville if you or a loved one are experiencing abdominal pain. Next, you should make an appointment with a specialist who specializes in treating gastritis.
Definition
The term “gastritis” is usually used to describe a variety of diseases that all share the same characteristic of stomach lining inflammation. Most frequently, infection with the bacterium that most commonly results in stomach ulcers, or constant use of painkillers is what causes gastritis.
Causes
Gastritis is caused when your mucus-lined barrier gets injured or weakened and allows digestive juices to damage or inflame your stomach lining. Several factors increase the risk of gastritis by damaging your mucus-lined barrier.
Risk factors
Here are the most common factors that increase the risk of gastritis:
Infections: These are the most common causes of gastritis; especially helicobacter pylori is the most common bacterial infection that leads to chronic gastritis or other upper gastrointestinal disorders worldwide. Other bacterial and viral infections are linked with stomach flu and only cause short-term reactions. Besides bacterial or viral infections, parasitic and fungal infections also cause this condition.
Chemicals: If you use certain drugs regularly such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (ibuprofen, Advil, Motrin IB, etc.) then, they can cause both acute and chronic gastritis. Even certain recreational drugs like cocaine, may also cause gastritis.
Older age: Older people’s stomach lining tends to get thin with age and there’s an increased chance of getting infected with bacteria or viruses that cause gastritis.
Excessive alcohol drinking: Alcohol can destroy your stomach lining, which leaves your stomach vulnerable to digestive juices. If you drink too much alcohol you are more likely to experience acute gastritis.
Stress: Having severe stress from surgery, injury, or infection can increase the risk of gastritis.
Cancer treatment: Chemotherapy or radiation treatment weakens the mucus lining and increases the risk of gastritis.
Autoimmune diseases: This type of gastritis disease is caused when your body’s immune system attacks your body’s own cells and causes inflammation. This condition may be a side effect of autoimmune disease.
Other diseases and conditions: Several other diseases like HIV/AIDS, Crohn’s disease, sarcoidosis, celiac disease, etc. increase the risk of gastritis.
Symptoms
Gastritis does not cause any symptoms in the early phase. If you notice certain symptoms that means your gastritis is severe or you’ve had it for a long time. Symptoms occur when your stomach lining is worn out and it cannot protect itself from stomach acids and enzymes anymore. That acid may cause symptoms such as:
Indigestion
Stomach ulcers, which may even hurt or bleed.
Nausea or vomiting.
Loss of appetite.
Stomach pain
Bloating.
If you have a bleeding ulcer in your stomach, you may find:
Black color/blood in your poop (melena).
Black color/blood in your vomit (coffee ground emesis).
Acute gastritis is a quick onset of the condition, while chronic gastritis develops gradually over time. Gastritis occasionally causes ulcers and raises the risk of stomach cancer. However, gastritis is typically not serious and responds well to treatment. Acute gastritis is not a severe problem if it happens. You can easily treat it at home. However, if your symptoms of gastritis are not going away on their own and get worse then, you should visit your healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment for better management, in case of chronic cause
If you are having difficulty digesting your food, you should consult a doctor. Feeling under the weather? It’s time to make a doctor’s appointment. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and are curious about their remedies, we recommend scheduling a consultation with Doral Health & Wellness. Please contact us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11212 if you have any business with us. If you are in New York City and in need of a Gastroenterologist, you may consider making an appointment at Endoscopy Treatment Center Brooklyn. Please contact a Gastroenterologist in Brooklyn by calling +1-347-384-5690.